Hey brothers, I haven't been active on the forum for several years, as life has kept me busy. I've had this NAPCO 2-ton for about a dozen years and haven't turned a wrench on it for about 8 or 9 years. The original truck is in the gallery as a 1954 6400. The bed and body were shot, so I looked for a donor in good shape. After a short period, Grigg found me a 1950 6100 dump truck that was a fire truck early in life.
I had an original NAPCO 2 ton installation manual, so after ditching the bed, the conversion began. It was very easy to do and only took a couple days. The only outside help was having the driveshafts resized. I completely rebuilt the front axle and began rebuilding the brakes before going into hibernation.
Years ago, this truck was a cruiser at the Tri-State show in Winchester. Sweet enjoyed driving his young kids around in it... with only a hand brake. It is not currently running, but I hope to remedy that soon with help from my ODSS brethren. Who knows, it may even show up at Homecoming this year. I need a lot of knowledge to get this thing roadworthy, so I'll be picking your collective brains.
One of my favorite trucks too! Don't let George kid you, he is a wizard with old iron! It would be awesome to have the Jolly Green Giant back in Winchester this year. Good to hear from you Brother.
~ Billy Old Dominion Stovebolt Society: Exotic Animal Division 1946 Chevrolet Cab Over Engine | In the Gallery | Video | More pictures 1959 GMC 860 | Pictures 1950 GMC 450 FlatbedW/W, Air Brake equipt (25% Owner) | Pictures 1950 Chevrolet 3800 | Pictures I've got a trailer and I'm not afraid to use it!
Very nice truck Dude ! What part of Virginia are you from ? I go to Roanoke often. Purchased a couple trucks out of Virginia. One in Salem, and the other in Lexington.
Spanky Hardy Collector Of Fine Old G.M. COE Trucks & Antique Holmes Wreckers
Thanks guy's. Billy, I'm hoping for a return to Winchester with the truck as well. Good to hear from you brother. Spanky, I think we talked on the phone over 10 years ago about truck stuff. My oldest son played a few basketball games near you at High Point University. I'm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia near Harrisonburg.
Hambone- I'm sure the Beast wouldn't recognize Flappy. Milliman told me that the only original piece remaining was the radiator cap! Can't wait to see it. Mike B.- That fender probably outshines the other to this day and that was about 10 years ago. I talked to Grigg yesterday and he said you might be able to track down a set of 22.5's for this rig. Give me a shout if you find something.
That's a good question. It's a single speed for obvious reasons, but I don't know what model it is. I'll try to get a couple more pictures of the truck posted soon..
Thanks Mike. That's the downside of having all my brothers here for the junkyard tour! The upside is worth it, but I bet we've pulled 10 sets of 22.5's and they're all gone!
Hi George, I was at your place just after you installed the Napco on that truck. Picked up all your leftover parts from the Sub. I'm rebuilding the 270 in my 1956 GMC 2 ton LCF now and will be installing the Napco at the same. There are a few yards around here so I'll take a look for those wheels.
Technically, as Mike B. stated, GMC did indeed call their version of the Chevrolet LCF(Low Cab Forward), the "F" series, but to keep confusion down, most people go ahead and group them as LCF's as the Chevy guys do. My 1952 GMC COE, is actually a "F" model 470 series COE. 47-51 COE trucks were "HF" models, but I just call it a COE.
Spanky Hardy Collector Of Fine Old G.M. COE Trucks & Antique Holmes Wreckers
Do you mind snapping a decent image of the front axle? It looks suspiciously similar to the Banjo axles on my WW2 Chevy. Often wondered if NAPCO sourced components from Eaton when available.
Paul, I used military axle parts when I rebuilt the axle. All the seals and wipes were the same. I also have an extra front axle from a Bolter that hasn’t been around for a long time. NAPCO made their start on military trucks and learned to shift to commercial vehicles after the war. Here are a couple more pictures.
Looks like the same Chevrolet axle that is under the front of my CCKW. Right down to the two fill plugs - so that the cover can be used on either the front or rear axles.
Servicing the wheel and knuckle bearings, along with the CVs is just about one of my favorite jobs. (NOT!) Plan on using up just about every rag you have in your shop...
I'm assuming they used the Chevrolet transfer case, too... The one that spins the front prop shaft in the opposite direction as the rear ?
Thanks for the images. Yes that sure does look like the Eaton "banjo" axle used on all of the WW2 Chevys and many of the WW2 GMC's. For years I had thought that NAPCO sourced GI parts on the larger truck conversions. Very cool that your truck still has the NAPCO badging on the axle. I would figure that the transfer case is also GM military as the front axle turns the opposite direction than most front drive axles. As a diehard gear head, I and others would love to see some images of the transfer case and the rear axle...if you would be so kind to share. Does your truck have the 6 stud centered bud style wheels?
Yes that steering knuckle service job is a messy task. Ever notice that very few guys stop to take pictures of that part of a build?, they are way too greasy to handle the camera.
Here are some pictures of the transfer case and rear axle. Note the PTO on the transfer case. I also have a PTO on the transmission. The lugs on the front axle can be seen in the original post. It is a typical 10 lug pattern that a stock Chevy 2 ton would have. My extra front end has the military 6 lug setup. I also have a spare transfer case for a future build.
Looks very similar to mine. Only difference is mine has a second driveshaft and parking brake drum where the PTO is on yours.
"Chatter" on the CCKW sites says to keep an eye on the transfer case to frame bolts, as they tend to loosen up and can cause the case to crack -although I have not personally experienced this on my truck.
The books and TMs always refer to these axles a "corporate" or being made by Chevrolet. Did Eaton make them for Chevy, or was this an Eaton design produced by them ?
I do not own a NAPCO anything, but they were made about 10 miles from my home, in Hopkins, MN. I have been in the building since they moved out of it, down the street to a new address. The building will be or already has been removed to make room for a street and some light rail something or other.
Somewhere around here I have some sales literature from about 1957 I think extolling the virtues of the Chevrolet Mountain Goat, 3/4 ton Suburban - Napco conversion.
I believe the axles were manufactured for Chevrolet by Eaton and modified by Napco for the front drive. I believe all the parts are the same, front and rear except for the axle shafts and the steering parts.
People ask me regularly if my '62 K10 is a Napco, it is not, it has an Eaton/Chevrolet rear and a Dana 44 front with a Timken 4 shaft transfer. My transfer case is similar to the pictured Napco with 1 front and two rear outputs but the pto opening on the rear is not used for driving a second axle, it is still available when used with tandems.
One day I will run across the Napco literature and I will post it up, it is a sales package for a dealer and includes original 8x10 photos (not prints but original photographs).
Mac :{)
1962 K10 short step side, much modified for rally 1969 T50 fire truck, almost nos, needs a few things
Thanks for the images. Yes it does look like NAPCO borrowed components from the WW2 era Chevy 4x4. There are a couple of slight differences such as the front axle to spring attachment arrangement and the speedometer cable location, otherwise the basic components and major castings look identical. Interesting to note that your axle hubs are 5 bolts vs the military 6 bolt. I wonder what type of parts concoction NAPCO came up to make that arrangement? Makes me think that there may be some GM off the shelf spindle and hub compatibility.
The attached images are from my 1941 Chevy GI 4x4.
I also have a 1987 Chevy C70 4x4 dump truck that was previously a firetruck that has a similar transfer case. Any idea whether it might be a suitable replacement if the original goes out? If the axle wasn't so wide it would be a sweet swap into a Big Bolt.
The transfer case in your 1987 Chevy looks considerably different. Drivetrains in the WW2 era were kind of oddball. Both the front and rear differentials have identical parts, same ring and pinion for front and rear. To accommodate, the front axle pinion is mounter real high rotating the assembly the opposite direction as the rear with its low mounted pinion. Both front and rear transfer case output shafts rotate in the same direction.
Your transfer case looks like the one that is in my '62 K10, I believe it is called the Timken 4 shaft. It has provisions for an input at the top front, a PTO at the top rear, two outputs at the bottom rear for tandem axles, and a single output at the bottom front. All outputs rotate in the same direction as the input.
The NAPCO transfer has similar outputs but the front shaft rotates opposite to the input. I don't know which way the PTO output rotates.
Mac :{)
1962 K10 short step side, much modified for rally 1969 T50 fire truck, almost nos, needs a few things
Thanks gents. I know the appearance is different, but was wondering if it would be a possible replacement since it’s a divorced case with a drivers side pumpkin. Someone mentioned a backwards spin earlier and I was wondering if this t-case would work in a NAPCO. These cases are supposed to be bulletproof, so I doubt I’ll need one, but you never know.
~ Cosmo 1949 Chevy Half Ton Rocinante, like Don Quixote, he is awkward, past his prime, and engaged in a task beyond his capacities. "...my good horse Rocinante, mine eternal and inseparable companion in all my journeys and courses." ...Don Quixote, Cervantes "If you come to a fork in the road, take it."...Yogi Berra "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength." ...Eric Hoffer
Thats a great looking truck
(NOT!) Plan on using up just about every rag you have in your shop...